Cash and Nelson Hit Rolling Stone‘s Song List

Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and Roy Orbison are among those landing titles on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The list, compiled by 172 music critics and musicians, will be published in the magazine’s issue hitting newsstands Friday (Nov. 19). At No. 30, Cash’s “I Walk the Line” is the highest-ranking country song on the list. Cash has two other titles on the list — “Ring of Fire” (No. 87) and “Folsom Prison Blues” (No. 164). Nelson is mentioned for his own recordings of “On the Road Again” (which he wrote) and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” (written by Fred Rose). As a writer, Nelson’s hit for Patsy Cline, “Crazy,” landed at No. 85. Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” made the magazine’s final cut, as did Orbison’s “Crying,” “In Dreams,” “Only the Lonely” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” Five songs popularized by Ray Charles are on the list, including “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” written by Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Gibson. The magazine’s top-rated song is Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.”